Ethnic Diversity and High Street Regeneration

Post date: Jan 2, 2012 3:30:13 PM

Ethnic Diversity and High Street Regeneration

Ethnic minority groups have a high propensity to set up businesses or be self-employed. According the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, ethnic minority groups in the UK are far more likely to start up their own business than white people. Asian people, for example, are twice as likely to be involved in autonomous start-ups than their white counterparts; while Caribbean people are three times as likely and Africans nearly five as likely to be involved in a start-up company than white people.

Chinatown

The London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA) was formed in August 1978 to serve the Chinese community by responding to the needs of the businesses and residents of London’s Chinatown. Its aims are to enhance the area and to improve the quality of life for the entire community as well as the tens of thousands of visitors who come to Chinatown every year. It also strongly supports maintaining and developing Chinatown’s distinct character. The association works in partnership with various organisations, and over the years have forged strong relationships with Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police, local landlords and the Greater London Authority. The contribution of the LCCA, as a key player in facilitating many events, its supportive role to the community, and involvement over the Chinatown Action Plan, has been recognised by its many partners. More at www.londonchinatown.org.

Banglatown

Banglatown was established in recognition of the large Bangladeshi community living in and around Brick Lane (London, E1). It is an icon to the Bangladeshi community in the UK and has witnessed some of the most turbulent events of the Bangladeshi community's struggle in the UK. Banglatown, modelled on the popular Chinatowns found in coutries around the world, has recently gone through a transformation, which has improved its appearance to a more modern look. Brick Lane, is one of the most popular areas in London, mostly known for its assortments of cheap curry houses, situated only 5 minutes from the city surrounded by good transport links has made the whole area phenomenally popular with the creative community.

GreekTown, Melbourne

Lonsdale Street is the home base to Melbourne’s Greek Community, restaurants, cafes, gift shops and everything Greek can be found on this great street. Whether it be a juicy lamb sovalaki, Dolmades or some mouth watering Mousaka this is where you will find some of the best Greek food. The Greeks have based their community in Lonsdale street since the early 1900’s. For over 100 years people have been playing tavli on the al fresco tables drinking coffee or ’Kok’. Walking down the street you hear strains of Greek music and smell the fantastic cuisine.

Night time the precinct comes alive, with cabaret, Greek Music from many of the Greek nightclubs, spend the whole evening dining outdoors watching the fancy modified ’sports’ cars.

Italian Quarter, Melbourne

Lygon Street, in Carlton - is Melbourne’s Italian quarter, and Lygon St. its backbone. Many of the thousands of Italian immigrants who came to Melbourne after WWII

settled in Carlton, and Lygon St. became the focal point of their community. This lively street is filled with people promenading, dining, sipping cappuccinos, shopping and

generally soaking up the atmosphere.

Clearly not all high streets and town centres will have this option available to them but many will given we live in one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. With a little collaboration between communities, landlords and councils we could increasingly have more unique and interesting high streets and town centres that will be differentiated from out of town shopping centres and the internet via the shopping and leisure experience.